STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF TOUNGE

 The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth.

 The tongue is covered with moist, pink tissue called mucosa.
 Tiny bumps called papillae give the tongue its rough texture.
 Thousands of taste buds cover the
surfaces of the papillae.
 Papillae are 4 types:
 Circumvallate papillae
 foliate papillae
 Fungi form papillae
 filiform papillae
 Taste buds are collections of nerve-like
cells that connect to nerves running into
the brain.
 In the back of the mouth, the tongue is
anchored into the hyoid bone.
 The receptors for taste, called taste buds, are situated
chiefly in the tongue, but they are also located in the
roof of the mouth and near the pharynx. They are able
to detect four basic tastes:
 Bitter
 Sour
 Salty
 Sweet
 The tongue also can detect a sensation called "umami"
from taste receptors sensitive to amino acids.
 Generally, the taste buds close to the tip of the tongue are sensitive to sweet tastes.
 Whereas those in the back of the tongue are sensitive to bitter tastes.
 The taste buds on top and on the side of the tongue are sensitive to salt and saur.
 Taste buds contain the receptors for taste.
 These are located on top of the taste receptor cells that constitute the taste buds.
Functions of Tongue
 Taste  Deglutition
 Speech  Oral hygiene
 Mastication  Secretion
 Sucking  Thermal regulation

Human Anatomy & Physiology – I (Special Senses – Tounge)

DEVENDRA KUMAR RAWAT
Assistant Professor, BMSCP, Amethi